THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : DPTs :  School of Social and Political Science DPTs
Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Mathematics for Social Science (SSPS08009) should normally be taken in Year 1 but can be taken in Year 2. Please talk to your Cohort Lead if you want to take this course in Year 2.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Mathematics for Social Science (SSPS08009) should normally be taken in Year 1 but can be taken in Year 2. Students who did not take Mathematics for Social Science in their 1st year will be expected to do so in their 2nd year.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

International Relations Year 2 Optional Courses

Select between 0 and 60 credits of the following courses
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 80 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
Notes:
Students should not take Introduction to Political Data Analysis.
AND

Challenge Courses: Engaging with complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Challenge Courses are designed to bring together students from different degree programmes to explore the complex issues facing the world today through interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.

Working with each other and expert academics, students will gain new perspectives and develop important life skills highly valued by employers, such as teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students who are planning on spending their Junior Year Abroad must successfully progress to honours before they can proceed on their JYA.

Students on with Quantitative Methods degrees must take Statistical Modelling in year 3 (or year 4 if on a year abroad). They must take at least two and no more than three quantitative electives across their third and fourth year.

Students who take a year abroad in year 3 will almost always take Statistical Modelling in year 4 and then must select at least one and no more than two quantitative electives.

Year 3 students on a Junior Year Abroad must take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations on their return in Year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select between 40 and 80 credits of the following courses
AND

Quantitative Methods Year 3 Electives

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students on with Quantitative Methods degrees must take at least two and no more than three quantitative electives across their third and fourth year. Students who take a year abroad in year 3 will almost always take Statistical Modelling in year 4 and then must select at least one and no more than two quantitative electives

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Students on with Quantitative Methods degrees must take Statistical Modelling in year 3 (or year 4 if on a year abroad). They must take at least two and no more than three quantitative electives across their third and fourth year.

Students who take a year abroad in year 3 will almost always take Statistical Modelling in year 4 and then must select at least one and no more than two quantitative electives.

Students who were on a Junior Year Abroad in Year 3 must take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations on their return in Year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 80 credits in this group.

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select between 20 and 80 credits of the following courses
AND

Quantitative Methods Year 4 Electives

Select between 0 and 60 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Students on with Quantitative Methods degrees must take at least two and no more than three quantitative electives across their third and fourth year. Students who take a year abroad in year 3 will almost always take Statistical Modelling in year 4 and then must select at least one and no more than two quantitative electives

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